BREAKING NEWS US Biathlon Announces 2014 Olympic Team Nominations

NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine (January 12, 2014) – US Biathlon’s International Competition Committee (ICC) is pleased to announce the following roster of athletes for nomination to the 2014 United States Olympic Team:

US Biathlon 2014 Olympic Team Nominations

Lowell Bailey, Lake Placid, NY (2006, 2010 Olympian)

Lanny Barnes, Durango, CO (2006, 2010 Olympian)

Tim Burke, Paul Smiths, NY (2006, 2010 Olympian)

Annelies Cook, Saranac Lake, NY

Russell Currier, Stockholm, Maine

Susan Dunklee, Barton, VT

Sean Doherty, Center Conway, NH

Hannah Dreissigacker, Morrisville, VT

Leif Nordgren, Marine, MN

Sara Studebaker, Boise, Idaho (2010 Olympian)

Up to two male and two female biathletes – Bailey, Burke and Dunklee - were eligible to earn early nominations to the Olympic Team during the 2012-13 season by gaining two top-15 finishes in World Cup or World Championship competition, or by having a top-30 overall World Cup ranking. Cook and Nordgren were nominated following the December World Cups. The remaining selections for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team were announced today following the IBU Cup races in Riduan, Italy. All nominations are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

"I want to congratulate the athletes on being nominated to the Olympic Team. Everyone of them has shown a dedication to excellence and a love of the sport that has led them to this outstanding accomplishment," said Bill Burke, Chairman of the US Biathlon Board of Directors. "I can't wait to cheer them on in person at the Olympics and to celebrate their achievements with their families"

"I am very pleased with the progress the athletes on the team have made. It's the result of their focused training with some of the world's best coaches and high performance staff," said US Biathlon President & CEO Max Cobb. "There is one more World Cup before the Olympic Games and we are looking forward to seeing the team in action there. Our top ranked athletes, Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey, have both had podium-level performances and the Olympic rookies have had very compelling performances that indicate personal-bests lay ahead for them this season."

Quotes from today's nominated athletes, and athlete biographies, are forthcoming.